Principles for evaluating health risks in children associated with exposure to chemicals

Overview

Published under the joint sponsorship of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization, and produced within the framework of the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals.

This chapter and the monograph as a whole should be a useful tool for public health officials, research and regulatory scientists, and risk managers in addressing the major scientific principles underlying the assessment of health risks from exposure to environmental chemicals in children during critical stages of development. Considerable progress has been made in developing risk assessment approaches that address the special developmental stage-specific vulnerabilities of children. Focused research has led to improvements in data collection and the breadth and depth of the overall database. There is an increased understanding of normal and abnormal development and the influence of age-specific conditions on a child’s vulnerability. Nevertheless, life stage-specific risk assessments are only beginning to be incorporated into the overall risk assessment process, and many gaps in knowledge and in the appropriate application of data into child-protective risk assessment policies need to be addressed.

This report contains the collective views of an international group of experts and does not necessarily represent the decisions or the stated policy of the United Nations Environment Programme, the International Labour Organization or the World Health Organization.